AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - A few more than 70 unwanted cats or kittens have been dropped off to the Auckland SPCA in little more than 24 hours .. more proof that cats and kittens and even dogs make horrible Christmas presents.
Chief executive Andrea Midgen said that figure was down last year, when 120 cats had been given to the SPCA following the Christmas holiday season.
The organization took the random step of closing for the weekend following Christmas, including Boxing Day, but had opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday.
In that time 71 cats or kittens had been “dropped off,” although some had been left at a nearby clinic.
“The lower figure could have been due to a shelter’s closure,” Midgen said. No other animal figures were available.
The organization frequently attempts to educate people about the perils of buying animals as Christmas surprises for friends and family.
It has a policy that people can’t adopt SPCA pets on behalf of others, and this year it had turned away many people who had tried to adopt for others.
Midgen said people in their 20’s to 30’s tended to be the culprits, with people often thinking getting a pet for another person would be a funny joke or a prank.
“I heard a few before Christmas thinking it would be a good idea (but) most people understand the policy. A cat can live up to 20 years old and dogs around 10 to 15 years. It’s like having a child,” she said.
She wished pet stores could be more careful when selling pets to people at Christmas time.
“Pet stores have different drivers - they just want to sell. (But) what they should do is sell pets responsibly,” she said.
Summer was great time for cats delivering litters and the SPCA had to employ five extra staff members during that period to cope with the volume of felines which were given to them.
Nearly 500 Auckland families foster SPCA pets until they’re given homes, but there were only so many times the organization could say yes to taking on more animals, Midgen said.
“It’s much better if they do rehome them themselves because we just get so many. If we can’t keep up with it we have to say we can’t take any more.”
She urged people to consider the stress animals are put under by the frequent change of address, she said.
While some animal personalities dealt with change rather well, others would find it frightening or develop anxiety as a result of being given up, she said.
Yes, animals do take being given away personally.
Source: www.stuff.co.nz
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